Follow block for filing cabinets



June 9, 1925. 1,541,173

J. B. ORMOND FOLLOW BLOCK FOR FILING CABINETS Filed Sept 19, 1924 In FPatented June 9, 19 25.

] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. ORMOND, OF FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.

FOLLOW BLOCK FOR FILING CABINETS.

Application filed September 19, 1924. Serial No. 738,615.

mat cally adjust its position to accommoelite varying numbers of filingcards or the 11 e.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for relieving thetension pf the follow block spring.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will beapparentfrom the following detailed description considered with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a filing cabinet drawer equipped with theinvention;

Figure. 2 is a section taken on the line of Figure 1;

Figure 31s a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 and Figure 4 is adetail section through the ears and sleeve of the following block.

Referring more particularly to the drawings-wherein like referencenumerals refer to similar parts throughout the several -.views, 1,denotes a filing cabinet drawer comprising side walls 2, end walls 3 andbottom 1, all of usual construction. The

bottom wall 4, of the drawer 1, is formed with a longitudinal groove 5,for a purpose about to be described. 1

A rod 6, formed with a threaded portion 7, lies i'n-the groove 5, withits ends'inserted' in holes in the end walls 3, of the drawer 1.

The front end of the rod 6, which passes through the front end wall ofthe drawer is reduced as at 19, and a washer 8, fits over this reducedend, on the inside of the drawer, thus preventing the withdrawal of therod through the front end wall. A knob 9, is fixed to the protruding endof the rod 6, in a suitable manner, as by means'of cotter pin 10, orby'the use of threads only, thereby preventing the slipping orunnecessary withdrawal of the rod in the reverse direction. The rear endof rod 6, as inserted in the rear end of wall 3, of the drawer, does notextend beyond, but lies flush with, the outside of the wall.

The follow block 11, which is of rectangular formation, and ispreferably made of sheet metal, is formed with the spaced apertured ears12 and 13 through which the rod 6, extends, it being understood that theears l2 and 13 are of a size to fit within the groove 5. A short tube15, is preferably fixed between the ears and forms a, guide or bearingfor the rod 6, but this tube may be dispensed with in actual practice.

tion 7, of the rod 6, is a nut 17 of substantially inverted V shape,which travels in the groove 5-. The flat base of the nut engages thebottom of the tray and thus prevents the nut from turning or wobbling. A

- coil spring 18, on the rod 6, is secured at its front end to the nut17 and at its opposite end is attached to the "follow block. The tensionof the coil spring 18, normally tends to pull the follow block forwardlytowards Threadedly mounted on the threaded porthe front of the drawer 1.Consequently as the number of cards or other devices filed in the drawerincreases-the follow block will automatically move outwardly under theincreasing pressure, thus stretching the spring 18.

In order to'compensate for this stretching of the spring and thusprevent the spring from being broken under excessive load, the nut 17,is moved rearwardly alongthe rod ,6, by the operator turning the knob 9,in

the appropriate direction. It will thus be seen that the turning of theknob 9, in one direction causes the nut 17, to travel along the threadstoward the rear end of the tray or drawer, thereby relieving any tensionof the coil spring occasioned by constant filing of cards or papers, andthe final filling of the drawer. The nut 17, to which is attachedthecoil spring and follow block, is

brought back to its original position at the front of the drawer or trayafter the file has been cleared, by turning the knob in the oppositedirection.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as my invention is:

1. A filing receptacle having a recess in its bottom, a partiallythreaded .rod mounted for turning movement in said receptacle andpositioned in said recess, a nut threaded on said rod fixed againstrota-tion but free to move along said rod, a follow block at one end andat its other end connected to said nut, and means for turning said rodto' vrelieve'the tension of said spring.

2. A filing receptacle having a partially 1 *fllread'ed rodrotatablymounted in the bot:

tom thereof, a follow block slidably connectedto said rod, a nutthreaded upon said rod forlongitudinal movement thereon but fixedagainst rotation, a coilspring connecting the follow block and the nut,and means for turning the rod to adjust the tension on said spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES B. ORMOND.

Vitnesses:

WALTER RUNKE,

H. T. Essnmm.

